Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy asked the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) to help expedite release of central assistance for drought-mitigation work, drinking water supply and other purposes, a press release from the Chief Minister`s Office (CMO) said.

The IMCT, led by Joint Secretary (Agriculture) Sanjeev Gupta, met the AP Chief Minister here this evening after winding up a two-day trip to drought-hit areas of the state.
The Chief Minister told the team that 234 mandals (tehsils) in 9 districts were declared drought-affected.
An area of 12.60 lakh hectares belonging to small and marginal farmers and 2.28 lakh hectares of other farmers has been affected due to drought, he said.